MCAs acted within law to impeach Wambora, says AG

Impeaching Governor Martin Nyaga Wambora

By MUNENE KAMAU

KERUGOYA: The Attorney General has said it was within the mandate of Embu County Assembly to initiate the process of impeaching Governor Martin Nyaga Wambora.

Lawyer Mwangi Njoroge told a three-judge bench in Kerugoya that the Senate was also within its mandate to impeach the governor.

The argument was also supported by Deputy Governor Dorothy Nditi who, through lawyer Kibe Mungai, said the impeachment process was clearly provided for in the Constitution.

In his submission before Justices Hedwig Ong’undi, Cecilia Githua and Boaz Olao, Njoroge said yesterday just as the National Assembly could summon the President and his Deputy for the purpose of impeachment, a county assembly could do the same to a governor.

Njoroge, representing the Attorney General who has been named as one of the respondents, told the court the county assemblies under the new dispensation are equivalent to the National Assembly and the Senate since the three chambers are charged with the responsibility of legislating laws.

“The county assembly is brought into being by way of elections and therefore represents Kenyans at the lowest levels hence the seriousness taken whenever they raise issues,” he submitted.

The lawyer also submitted that the moment the Senate upheld any of the five charges instituted, Wambora ceased to be the Governor of Embu County.

“Three out of the five charges instituted in the Wambora impeachment proceedings at the Senate were actually confirmed and in his presence, his lawyers and witnesses,” Njoroge submitted.

He also told the court since some impeachment charges Wambora is faced with were criminal in nature; the matter should be dealt with cautiously. The hearing resumes Tuesday.